29-man Caltex Socceroos squad announced

Mar 06, 2018

Football Federation Australia

With 100 days to go until the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ kicks off in Russia, Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Bert van Marwijk has named a 29-player preliminary squad for this month’s important international friendly fixtures against Norway in Oslo, and Colombia in London.

Twenty-two of the players involved with Australia’s successful FIFA World Cup™ Inter-Confederation play-off against Honduras last November have been selected in the first preliminary squad of van Marwijk’s reign, while seven new or returning players have been added to the Caltex Socceroos mix.

The Hyundai A-League is well represented with four current players in contention to feature in the Dutchman’s final squad to be confirmed next week. James Troisi from Melbourne Victory is joined by Western Sydney Wanderers FC’s Josh Risdon, Sydney FC’s Joshua Brillante, as well as uncapped Newcastle Jets attacker Dimitri Petratos. Andrew Nabbout, who joined Japanese giants Urawa Red Diamonds from Newcastle Jets on Monday, has also been selected.

Goalkeeper Brad Jones, defender James Meredith, and attacker Jamie Maclaren are among the capped Caltex Socceroos players to be included in van Marwijk’s preliminary squad, while uncapped 22-year-old defender Aleksandar Susnjar could receive his first senior international call-up. Susnjar, who plays for FK Mlada Boleslav in Czech Republic, impressed in the heart of defence for Australia at January’s 2018 AFC U-23 Championship held in China.

“Since my appointment with the Socceroos, my staff, scouts and I have monitored over 100 Australian players in the Hyundai A-League, as well as in leagues across Europe and Asia,” said van Marwijk.

“We are pleased with the initial 29 players we have picked for our upcoming games against Norway and Colombia and will finalise the squad next week.

“There are still a couple of weeks before the group gathers in Oslo, so we will continue to monitor the health and fitness of all the players in the preliminary squad, as well as those on our longer list of potential World Cup squad members.

“Our upcoming matches against Norway and Colombia will provide a great chance for the players selected to press their claims for Russia, however the door remains ajar for all players not picked for the March window,” concluded van Marwijk.

The Caltex Socceroos will convene in Oslo on Monday, 19 March 2018. The squad will take on Norway at the Ullevaal Stadion on Friday, 23 March, before shifting to London on Saturday, 24 March. On Tuesday, 27 March Australia will play Colombia at Craven Cottage in west London.

Both friendly matches will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and Network Ten.